The Health System Specialist will implement a Performance Improvement program at the Health Care System level. The position is responsible for delivering Performance Improvement techniques to a broad array of program and services throughout the Medical Center, including Lean, Six Sigma, Coaching, Project Management, and Training.

Duties

The Health System Specialist will participates in and facilitate transformative quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency improvement efforts, act as the project lead for healthcare and operational improvement projects impacting patient care delivery systems and functions throughout the medical center, and facilitate, coach, and train audiences at all levels of the organizations throughout the lifecycle of a performance improvement project. Major duties and responsibilities include: Organizes, directs, controls and coordinates group activities. Conducts extensive work in analyzing data and conducting background research on issues. Identifies root causes of performance issues and develops statistical models to measure the success of performance improvement actions. Converts data into numerous formats using advanced statistical models, including statistical process control charts, histograms, and process charts. Defines a project scope and goals through collaboration with subject matter experts and leadership at the facility, service line, program, or unit level. Leads project teams through designed brainstorming sessions to develop solutions towards a specific deliverable or goal during a project. Design experiments with process measurement in mind and develop processes by consulting with subject matter experts. Develops control plans, communication plans, risk management plans, and the closeout of projects. Provides consultation to executive, service line, and program leadership. Plans and conducts studies directed at reducing errors due to cognitive overloading and human computer interaction failure. Identify system design problems and alternative systems and processes based on Lean/Systems Redesign/Systems Engineering principles to mitigate errors. Collects baseline information, identifies limitations in current systems, and discovers potential improvements. Develops benchmarks and assigns a schedule or priority level to a potential project. Aligns appropriate performance improvement teams and resources, project scopes, and value streams, strategic and operational plans. Instructs staff on the implementation of guidelines and recommendations. Evaluates the quality of care and the efficiency of care processes. Provides instruction to others on Lean, Lean Six Sigma, Systems Redesign, or other improvement methodologies principles and tools through formal classroom instruction or small group mentoring. Develops written and verbal teaching materials. Delivers training materials and curriculum consisting of advanced practices of project management, statistics, coaching, facilitation and leadership. Ensure sustainability and spread of efforts directed at improving quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-Time; Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health System Specialist/PDS0012-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): May be authorized for highly qualified applicants. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/21/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 grade level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. GS-12 Minimum Qualifications: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal Service that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Health System Specialist? Qualifying specialized experience is defined as: progressively responsible analytical or administrative, or clinical management or supervisory experience in the health care field. This work may have been performed in an operating health care facility or a higher organizational echelon with advisory or directional authority over such facilities. Work must have involved a close working relationship with facility managers and analysis and/or coordination of administrative, clinical, or other service activities, and provided knowledge of the following: (1) Missions, organizations, programs, and requirements of health care delivery systems; (2) Regulations and standards of various regulatory and credentialing groups; and (3) Government-wide, agency, and facility systems and requirements in various administrative areas such as budget, personnel, and procurement. At this level, applicants would have obtained this experience participating in and facilitating transformative quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency improvement efforts. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem SolvingCommunicationOrganizational AwarenessOrganizational Performance Analysis Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion, such as periods of standing when teaching; some walking, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, or similar activities when visiting work sites; and some moderate lifting and carrying. At other times the work is sedentary, requiring the use of a computer. Work Environment: Duties are performed primarily in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office, classroom, or conference room setting. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Washington VA Medical Center 50 Irving Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20422 US
• Name: Steven Ton
• Phone: 909-683-4072
• Email: [email protected]